The official reasoning is that they don't want the addition of the Wild Card round to delay the start of the championship series, so they are going 2-3 instead of 2-2-1 in order to save a travel day and keep things "right on schedule."

The actual reasoning is not the leaves in the gutter (though that did not help), but the damage they did to the ladder when they carried it back and forth. Bud had to go buy a whole new one, it was completely ruined.

I think people are overestimating the impact of Strasburg in this series. Of course he would have made them better, but by how much? And my point was that his contribution has to be judged in comparison to what Detwiler does tomorrow, not to Jackson, who would have pitched anyway.

There's so much variability in playoff games that I would not attribute Washington losing to Strasburg not pitching (even though that's going to be the narrative if they do lose). The St Louis offense (and Washington's lack thereof) has probably more to do with the results so far.

Serious question -- how many of you Yankee fans were calling for Ibanez in the 9th inning before it happened?

I honestly didn't think he had much of a chance against Johnson. But yeah, given his late innings heroics this year it was in the back of my mind. I think people were generally happy with the pinch hit decision before he hit the homer.

Now the 12th inning homer, that was crazy. His first homer against a leftie since July 2011, I believe. His line against lefties this year: .197/.246/.246.

True Yankee (TM) status acquired.

In other news, that Valverde blown save was exactly what I expected him to do in the ALDS last year.

I honestly didn't think he had much of a chance against Johnson. But yeah, given his late innings heroics this year it was in the back of my mind. I think people were generally happy with the pinch hit decision before he hit the homer.

Now the 12th inning homer, that was crazy. His first homer against a leftie since July 2011, I believe. His line against lefties this year: .197/.246/.246.

True Yankee (TM) status acquired.

His Home Runs were huge, but I wouldn't label him that just yet. There's still more work to do.